In the aptly named Western Classic of Cuban baseball, Industriales capitalized on their home advantage at the Latinoamericano Stadium, securing a 5-3 victory over Pinar del Río on Wednesday as the Third Cuban Baseball Elite League (III ELCB) continued. Meanwhile, at the Guillermón Moncada Stadium in Santiago de Cuba, the home team solidified its grip on third place in the tournament with a comfortable 9-3 win against the last-place Granma. Industriales 5, Pinar del Río 3 Yasiel Santoya's double in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in Yosvany Peñalver from first base to put Industriales ahead 4-3 over Pinar del Río, a lead the Lions' team never relinquished. Minutes later, second baseman Alfredo Rodríguez welcomed reliever Jenier Álvarez with a single to center field that sealed the score, driving in the Azules' fifth run of the game. It was a game that was evenly matched until the seventh inning, with Pinar del Río starter Yunieski García (1-3) putting in a strong showing, holding the capital team to three runs until the fateful seventh inning. Industriales started aggressively when in the first inning they scored three runs, combining four hits and a hit by pitch, with one of the hits an RBI double by Yasmani Tomás, while Peñalver drove in the second with a single, and Santoya rounded out the tally with a sacrifice fly. It seemed that the Pinar del Río starter would leave the game early, but he recovered, and from then until the sixth inning, he managed to retire 16 of the 17 hitters faced, without allowing another single, and only giving up a walk to Peñalver at the beginning of the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río backed him up tying the game in the third inning, an inning where starter Yordan Williams came off the mound, after loading the bases and allowing a sacrifice fly by Lázaro Fernández that produced one run, and an RBI single by Dainier Gálvez that tied the game at 3-3. However, another great relief by right-hander Fernando Betanzo (3-2) was in charge of cooling the Vegueros' offense, leaving them with just one hit - by Yasiel Agete starting the fourth inning - in 4 2/3 innings with one strikeout and no walks. His work earned him the victory. In the eighth, Armando Dueñas (4) took the ball and pitched the last two scoreless innings, despite two hits, to achieve his fourth save of the tournament. The victory left Industriales alone in fourth place of the III ELCB, while the defeat made Pinar del Río drop one spot, now in fifth place. Photos by Boris Luis Cabrera Santiago de Cuba 9, Granma 3 Santiago de Cuba tied the Elite League home run record in Wednesday's 9-3 victory over Granma. The home run was hit by Yoel Yanki in the first inning off starter César García (0-3), a three-run shot that gave the winners an early lead. The blast was the 29th for the Santiago team in this Elite League, tying them with Artemisa, who set the collective record during the second edition of these tournaments, as our friends at La Hornilla reminded us last Tuesday. However, the home run was not decisive and Granma managed to overcome the deficit against Santiago starter Osvaldo Acuña (3-0). In the second inning, a single by Darián Palma and a double by Alexquemer Sánchez brought the team closer 3-1, while a sacrifice fly by Alexander Pozo closed the score at 3-2. In the third inning, Yordanis Samón would take care of driving in the tie, this time with his first home run of this III ELCB and 231 of his career in National Series. It would be the last run that Granma would score against Acuña. The right-hander recovered to complete another four innings, allowing three hits but without major consequences, finishing with 7 innings of three earned runs with seven hits, four strikeouts and two walks, for his third victory of the tournament. The Wasps' offense then took charge, breaking the tie in the fifth inning with a four-run single off starter and loser, right-hander César García (0-3). In that inning, a two-run single by Edilse Silva produced the first run, while a bases-loaded single by catcher Alexander Llánes produced another two and sent García back to the dugout. Off reliever Andy L. Pérez, second baseman Andy Rodríguez singled to left to drive in the last run of the inning. In the sixth inning, Santiago sealed the score with two more runs, combining a single by Francisco "Pancho" Martínez, an RBI double by Yanki, an intentional walk to Silva, and one of the four errors committed by the Granma defense, which enabled the second run to score due to Yanki's efforts. Yoel Yanki hit a home run and contributed four RBIs for Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday. (Photo by Guillermo Rodríguez) Relievers Isdenis Núñez and Israel Sánchez completed the final two innings for Santiago, with just one hit and two strikeouts, securing the victory. The win moved Santiago over the .500 mark, now with an 11-10 record, anchored in third place in the tournament, while the loss continues to sink Granma to the bottom of the league, now with 12 losses in 17 games.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Raisel Iglesias secures his first save of 2025. On Tuesday, Raisel Iglesias secured his first save of the season by shutting down the Phillies in the ninth inning, maintaining a two-run lead. Given a classic save opportunity, Iglesias delivered effectively. He got Max Kepler and Trea Turner to fly out to the outfield, issued a two-out walk to Bryce Harper, and then retired Alec Bohm with a pop out to third, concluding the game. He currently boasts a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 3/1 K/BB ratio over his first three innings this season. Andy Pagés recorded two hits in three at-bats, including a home run, and drew a walk in the game against the Nationals on Tuesday. Andy Pagés went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Nationals. He was the only Dodgers player to record multiple hits in the game, contributing one of the team's two runs with his solo homer in the fifth inning. Despite this strong performance, the young outfielder has had a challenging start to the season, with a current slash line of .162/.311/.270. Pagés has also faced some defensive issues in the outfield, yet Los Angeles has largely continued to play him, as he has appeared in 12 of the team's 13 games so far. Miguel Vargas went hitless on Tuesday. Miguel Vargas went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Guardians. Vargas played third base and hit seventh in the lineup. The Cuban infielder is experiencing another slow start to the season, with a slash line of just .147/.275/.206 and 11 strikeouts in 10 games. It may only be a matter of time before the team decides to take a different path with Vargas, who has not lived up to expectations for any MLB-level team. Yordan Álvarez drew two additional walks on Tuesday. Yordan Álvarez drew two additional walks against Seattle on Tuesday, following three walks on Monday. The Astros secured a 2-1 victory in 12 innings. In the game, Yordan went 1-for-3. He currently slashing .189/.333/.297 with one home run and 7 RBIs in 2025, but we can patiently wait for his bat to come alive soon. Yoán Moncada was not included in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Rays. Yoán Moncada was absent from Los Angeles’ lineup for the third consecutive game because of a persistent thumb problem that has troubled him since spring training. Yulieski Gurriel records his first extra-base hit of 2025. On Tuesday, Yulieski Gurriel went 1-for-5 in a 10-4 loss for the Padres against the A's. His sole hit was a double, marking his first extra-base hit of the season. He also contributed his second RBI but struck out three times. Gurriel is attempting to prolong his MLB career, though his bat might not be as effective over the course of a long season. José Iglesias made his debut as an outfielder. On Tuesday, José Iglesias took the field in left and hit seventh in the lineup against the Athletics. This marked Iglesias's first time starting in the outfield during his professional career. With three potential left fielders for the Padres benched due to a left-handed pitcher and Brandon Lockridge playing center because of Jackson Merrill's hamstring injury, Iglesias was given the opportunity to play left field. He ended the game 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Yariel Rodríguez ineffective again. Yariel Rodríguez once more had an ineffective outing from the bullpen. The right-hander was called in during the seventh inning with the Blue Jays leading 4-0 and ended up allowing Boston's first run of the game. He lasted only 2/3 of an inning, giving up a double to Romy González and a single to Ceddanne Rafaela that resulted in the run. His ERA increased to 9.64 in just 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed at least one run in three of his five appearances this year. Jorge Soler recorded one hit on Tuesday. Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 on Tuesday in the Angels' 4-3 win against the Rays. He struck out twice. Soler is performing as expected at the plate, with a batting line of .222/.286/.444, along with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in 2025. He has also accumulated 14 strikeouts in 10 games. Néstor Cortés undergoes Injection. Manager Pat Murphy, as noted by Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, stated that Cortés has undergone a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left elbow. This procedure is intended to assist in the recovery from the strain that led to his placement on the injured list on Sunday. Nonetheless, it is expected to prevent him from throwing for a few days. A timeline for his return will be determined once he is approved to begin a throwing program.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources. Andy Ibáñez's three-run homer off Carlos Rodón contributed to the Tigers' 6-2 victory over the Yankees on Monday. Andy Ibáñez went 1-for-3, hitting a three-run homer in Monday's victory against the Yankees. He initiated the game's scoring with his third-inning home run, which turned out to be the decisive factor in the 6-2 win. This was his first extra-base hit of the season. After beginning the season with an 0-for-9 slump over four games, he has now recorded a hit in each of his last three games. Ibáñez is currently slashing .158/.273/.316 across 22 plate appearances. Adolis García breaks hitless streak in lopsided defeat. Adolis García went 1-for-3 in the 7-0 loss to the Cubs on Monday. He broke his 0-for-17 slump with a single in the first inning, but he still hasn't recorded an RBI in his last seven games. The experienced outfielder is currently 6-for-34 (.176) with four RBI this season. However, he has hit two home runs, three doubles, drawn three walks, and stolen two bases over 11 games. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless inning Monday. In the Orioles' 5-1 victory over Arizona, Yennier Cano made an appearance. He entered the game in the seventh inning as a reliever and delivered a flawless inning, striking out two batters. Last year, Cano was among the league leaders in holds, achieving 34 (tied for 3rd), and he increased his strikeout rate by 3.1 percentage points. However, he also allowed more walks, with a walk rate of 9.6 percent. He aims to improve in these areas, and in the early stages of 2025, he is performing well, with 4 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, and no walks. Yordan Álvarez had three walks on Monday. Yordan Álvarez is a player the Mariners prefer to keep away from home plate. Given his past postseason performances against them, it's understandable that in Monday's 4-3 win over the Astros, Yordan was walked to first base three times - one intentionally - mainly due to the presence of Christian Walker behind him in the lineup. Ultimately, he ended the game 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Although Yordan's bat hasn't heated up yet, his first home run of the season last Sunday was crucial in helping the team rally to defeat the Twins. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not get any hits in the game against the Orioles. Besides hitting two home runs in the first month of the season, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hasn't demonstrated much else. On Monday, he went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, recording his seventh RBI in 11 games this season. Gurriel's current slash line is .167/.182/.357, with 4 runs and 6 strikeouts. Randy Arozarena hit a single and stole a base on Monday. Randy Arozarena recorded his third hit of April on Monday during a 4-3 victory against the Astros. He finished the game 1-for-4, striking out once and achieving his first stolen base of the year. Arozarena's start to 2025 has been shaky; although he hit two home runs in the first five games, his performance has declined in April, posting a .125/.222/.208 slash line with no homers. Yulieski Gurriel appeared as a pinch hitter on Monday. In San Diego's 5-4 victory over the A's, Yulieski Gurriel went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. With the game already at 5-4 in the top of the 8th inning and one out, Gurriel was called in to pinch-hit for designated hitter Gavin Sheets after Jake Croneworth walked. Gurriel then grounded out to the shortstop, enabling Croneworth to advance to second base. Gurriel' strong performance during spring training secured him a spot on San Diego's 2025 roster, but that could soon end for the 40-year-old Cuban legend, who is making an effort to prolong his MLB career at all costs. After misjudging a crucial flyball in Sunday's game, Andy Pagés was benched against a left-hander on Monday. This is his first absence of the season. The Dodgers aren't ready to give up on Pagés as a regular player, but he's probably on a tighter leash after posting a .118/.268/.147 slash line with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate in his first 41 plate appearances. In addition, although defensive metrics aren't harsh on his performance in center field, he frequently appears awkward.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Álvarez hits crucial home run. Yordan Álvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs in Sunday's 9-7 extra-inning victory over the Twins. He contributed the first run for Houston in the top of the first inning, bringing in Jose Altuve from third base with a sacrifice fly. The 27-year-old then added a single in the fifth inning before hitting a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth, leveling the score at 7-7. This was Yordan's first home run of the season, and he is currently batting .182 with the homer, seven RBIs, four walks, and 11 strikeouts over 33 at-bats in nine games. Luis Robert is experiencing a slow beginning to 2025. In Sunday's loss to the Tigers, Luis Robert had one hit in three at-bats, drew a walk, and was caught stealing. Robert has had a tough start to the season, managing only two hits in his last six games and 19 at-bats. Additionally, he has just one extra-base hit, a double from Opening Day, and has struck out 30.6 percent of the time. Aroldis Chapman secured a victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. During the first game of a doubleheader, Aroldis Chapman took the mound in the 10th inning with the score tied at four. Despite issuing a walk, he managed to record two strikeouts and a fly out, maintaining the tie. In the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox scored, resulting in a 5-4 win and earning Chapman his second win of the season. Chapman's performance for Boston has been impressive, achieving two wins and two saves in his four appearances as the team's primary closer, with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Brewers place LHP Néstor Cortés on 15-day IL, seeking second opinion. Néstor Cortés, who was added to the 15-day injured list due to a left elbow strain before Sunday's game against the Reds, mentioned he will seek a second opinion on his condition. Following a challenging debut with Milwaukee against his former team in the Bronx, the left-hander rebounded in his second appearance, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks, and striking out six. Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported that Cortés' elbow remained sore on Friday, leading him to inform the Brewers' medical staff on Saturday. It was collectively decided that Cortés would skip his next start and be placed on the IL. However, the Brewers are still gathering information and are not yet concerned about a long-term absence for the left-hander. Yoan Moncada Missed Sunday's Game, Could Return On Tuesday. Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (thumb) was absent from Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Angels manager Ron Washington indicated that Moncada is unlikely to rejoin the lineup until Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old aggravated a thumb injury during Friday's game with the Guardians and was also absent from Saturday's lineup. He has been struggling with a thumb injury, which also caused him to miss the last two weeks of spring training. Moncada is considered day-to-day. With the Angels having Monday off, the additional rest might allow Moncada to return to the lineup on Tuesday. White Sox catching prospect Edgar Quero went 2-for-5, scored two runs, drove in two RBIs, and hit his first home run of the season for Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday. Edgar Quero is currently batting .379 with a 1.017 OPS in the early stages, while fellow catcher Kyle Teel has cooled down, hitting just .235 with an .831 OPS. Although it's only been seven games, so we shouldn't overanalyze, if the White Sox were considering promoting a catching prospect to the major leagues, Quero appears to have the advantage at the moment. Jorge Soler hits a solo homer on Sunday. Los Angeles Angels outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a tiebreaking shot in the sixth inning of the Los Angeles Angels’ 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. It was Soler’ second homer in two days, a 397-foot shot off Luis Ortíz. The veteran added two RBIs, and scored during the game.

The Industriales Lions snapped Ciego de Ávila's four-game winning streak, winning 13-4 in the third meeting between the two teams this Sunday. Meanwhile, Pinar del Río took the lead in the series against Santiago de Cuba, with a close 3-2 victory that placed both teams in third place in the III Elite Cuban Baseball League (III LEBC). Industriales 13, Ciego de Ávila 4 Two significant rallies in the third and fifth innings propelled the Industriales Lions to a commanding 13-4 victory over the Ciego de Ávila Tigers this Sunday at José Ramón Cepero Park, elevating them to third place in the III LEBC. A 12-hit offensive surge—five of which came off Ciego de Ávila's starting pitcher Kevin Soto (3-2) —secured a crucial win for Industriales, ending their three-game losing streak. After a one-run tie in the first inning, Industriales surged ahead with five runs in the third inning, during which Ciego de Ávila's defense made two errors, and Yasiel Santoya's three-run homer was the highlight, completing the five-run inning. Yasiel Santoya drove in three runs with his home run in the third inning. (Photo by Carlos Alvarado) Starter Soto, who was aiming for his fourth win of the season, instead suffered his second loss after giving up six runs—five of which were earned—in only 2 1/3 innings. Soto recorded one strikeout, issued two walks, and allowed five hits, including a triple by Brandon Pérez and Santoya's home run. With the Lions ahead 6-1, Ciego attempted a comeback in the bottom of the third inning by loading the bases and scoring two runs against starter Diosbel Nápoles. However, coach Guillermo Carmona promptly opted to bring in his bullpen, and right-hander Fernando Betanzo (1-1) entered the game to halt the opposing offense. Betanzo pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief, giving up one earned run on four hits, striking out two, and walking none, to secure his first win of the tournament. In the eighth inning, left-hander Yordan Williams took over and ensured the Industriales' victory with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. After the fifth inning, Industriales scored again in the fourth and completed their final scoring in the fifth by adding six runs. During this inning, in addition to four hits, the team benefited from three walks and an error. The key hits of the inning included a single by catcher Andrys Pérez, which brought in two runs, and a double by Yosvany Peñalver to right field, also driving in two runs. This victory moved Industriales back to third place in this III LEBC, while Ciego de Ávila fell by half a game, yet remained at the top of the tournament. Pinar del Río 3, Santiago de Cuba 2 Pinar del Río needed just one inning, the fourth, to secure a narrow 3-2 victory over Santiago de Cuba and regain third place in the III LEBC. In the game, held at the Capitán San Luis stadium, Pinar capitalized on a fourth inning where left-handed starter Carlos Benavides (1-1) was poorly supported, with Santiago's defense making four errors - they made seven errors in the game - that proved crucial in Sunday's defeat. With the Easterners leading 2-0 and two outs, Yaser J. González extended the inning by hitting a single to left off Benavides. Immediately after, a fielding error by right fielder Edilse Silva, on a hit by Joan Rojas, allowed Yaser to score from first base, and Rojas to reach second, from which he scored shortly after on a single by Yasiel González that tied the game at two. The decisive run was scored on a double by first baseman Frank González, which required a video review. This hit changed the score, giving Pinar a 3-2 lead. From that moment, the Vegueros didn't let any advantage slip away. Although the Santiago starter remained solid, allowing no further liberties and completing six innings with only four hits, three unearned runs, four strikeouts, and a walk, he ultimately took the loss. Meanwhile, the Wasps' offense, despite gaining an early two-run lead against right-handed starter Mario A. Valle (2-2) by scoring one run in the second inning with a double by Eduardo García, a single that advanced him to third, and a grounder by Silva that brought him home, and another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by García, couldn't achieve much more against the Veguero starter from the fourth inning onward. Valle truly took complete control of the game, retiring a total of 15 consecutive batters between the third and seventh innings with three strikeouts. In the eighth inning, after Francisco "Pancho" Martínez hit a single to right field with one out, Pinar del Río's manager, Alexander Urquiola, decided it was time to bring in his bullpen. Valle delivered an outstanding performance, pitching 7 1/3 innings and allowing two runs—only one earned—while giving up three hits, striking out five, and issuing one intentional walk. His efforts secured him his second win of the III LEBC. The task of preserving the victory fell to veteran José A. García (4), who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. This not only made him the leader in saves in the Elite League with four but also marked his 312th career save in the National Series, all-time leader in that category.

The Ciego de Ávila Tigers secured another win, defeating Industriales 9-3, while Santiago de Cuba triumphed over Pinar del Río with an 8-3 victory. This result pushed the Tigers further from the top of the III Cuban Elite Baseball League (III LEBC), while Santiago de Cuba solidified their third place, now only two games behind the national champions, Las Tunas. With his relief, Yunier Batista secured Ciego de Ávila's 12th victory in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) Ciego de Ávila 9, Industriales 3 A collaborative performance by pitchers Leonardo Reyes (1-1) and Yunier Batista (2), backed by a 10-hit game, enabled Ciego de Ávila to achieve its second victory against Industriales, winning 9-3 at José R. Cepero Park in Ciego de Ávila. Reyes pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, while striking out four and walking three, securing his first win of the season. The young right-hander gave up only one hit in the first three innings. However, in the fourth inning, after hitting his second batter of the afternoon, he was let down by poor defense. An error by center fielder Yoasán Guillén on a hit by Dennis Laza allowed Industriales to score the first run, leaving Laza at third base. Shortly after, a sacrifice fly to right field by Yoandry Peñalver reduced the deficit to 3-2. After Reyes recuperated and dismissed five batters in a row, Industriales posed a threat in the sixth inning with back-to-back singles from Ángel Echavarría and Laza, after one out, prompting the starter's exit. From then on, reliever Batista effectively contained Industriales' hitters, facing thirteen batters and allowing only three to reach base—one due to an error in the seventh and two via hits in the eighth. His scoreless outing of 3 2/3 innings, featuring two strikeouts and no walks, secured him his second save of the III LEBC. Meanwhile, the Tigres' offense backed both pitchers by scoring five earned runs in six innings against Industriales starter Raymond Figueredo (1-3). In the second inning, Figueredo faced challenges by loading the bases through a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single. Catcher Fernando de la Paz then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Ciego a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, with two outs, a single from Leo Escalante, an RBI double by Frederich Cepeda, and a single from Robert L. Delgado increased the lead to 3-0. When Industriales narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning, Ciego quickly responded in the fifth, reclaiming their 2-run lead, with a single from Rodolexis Moreno, a triple by Escalante, and a wild pitch. These runs would have clinched the win, but in the seventh inning, Ciego scored four runs off the Industriales' bullpen. In the inning, they recorded four hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles from Ronaldo Castillo and Escalante. Ultimately, Industriales' starter took the loss, giving up six hits for six runs, with three strikeouts and a walk. This marked Industriales' third consecutive defeat and their eighth in the last 10 games, causing them to fall to fourth place. For Ciego, it was their fourth consecutive victory, solidifying their first-place position, now a full game ahead of Las Tunas. Santiago de Cuba 8, Pinar del Río 3 Santiago de Cuba recorded 14 hits, featuring a home run by Jeison Martínez, while veteran right-hander Danny Betancourt (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing just one run, to secure an 8-3 victory over Pinar del Rio at Capitan San Luis Park, leveling the series at one win apiece. Betancourt secured his 168th win in National Series history, by starting the game with four scoreless innings, and only allowing a run in the fifth. He did not pitch in the sixth. The right-hander finished the game with five hits, one strikeout, and one walk. When he exited the game, his bullpen supported him with four innings, allowing two earned runs. This included a solo home run by Yaser J. González in the sixth inning, narrowing the score to 3-2, Santiago leading. Santiago took an early lead in the first inning. Facing right-handed starter Raikol Suárez (0-2), Jeison Martínez hit a single and was driven in by Yoel Yanki's double. Soon after, Yoel Yanki scored on an RBI single by José Noroña. In the third inning, Jeison Martínez hit a solo home run, extending the Wasps' lead to a temporary 3-0. Pinar then staged a comeback, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Santiago secured the game in the eighth inning by scoring three runs. During this inning, after one out, Noroña hit a double, Andy Rodríguez followed with a single that advanced Noroña to third, and a wild pitch allowed him to score. A hit by José L. Gutiérrez put runners on the corners, and a double by Alexander Llánes brought both home against a Pinar bullpen that had to use three pitchers in the inning. Santiago's last two runs were scored in the ninth inning after Francisco "Pancho" Martínez walked, and Jeison and Yanki hit consecutive doubles. This victory was Santiago's sixth in their past 10 games, earning them third place in this III LEBC. The loss dropped Pinar to fourth place, where they are tied with Industriales.

The Las Tunas Lumberjacks team was introduced today at Havana's Estadio Latinoamericano, mere hours before they depart for Mexico on Sunday. They will represent Cuba in the Second American Baseball Champions League, which is set to take place from the 8th to the 13th. Osvaldo Vento Montiller, the president of the National Baseball Institute (INDER), handed the national flag to catcher Yosvani Alarcón, who was accompanied by second baseman Yordanis Alarcón and outfielder Héctor Castillo, after receiving it from the sport's greatest legend, Ermidelio Urrutia. Teresa Yamila Méndez Álvarez, vice president of INDER, and Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, head of the Cuban Baseball Federation, also led the ceremony. Slugger Rafael Viñales stated, while reading the athletes' commitment, "We will turn our belief in victory into a lasting weapon, reinforced by the aim of delivering a performance that will earn us the applause of our people and the efforts that have backed our preparation." Mendez Álvarez emphasized that the entire nation of Cuba will be watching their performance. "Las Tunas will proceed with awareness of the commitment, dedication, and passion for the team that have established Las Tunas among the top in baseball, along with the determination and strength of the reinforcements that enhance their current roster and contribute to their ongoing success." , she stated. Six teams will take part in the tournament, split into two groups. Las Tunas will make their debut next Wednesday in Group B against the Piratas de Santa María from Curaçao and will later play against the Puerto Rican Kane County Cougars. Group A consists of the Tigres de Chinandega from Nicaragua, the Titanes de Florida from the American Association, and the Diablos Rojos from the Mexican Professional League. This will provide manager Abeicy Pantoja's team with a chance to enhance their performance from last January's Serie de las Américas in Nicaragua, where they were defeated in the semifinals despite winning two out of their three qualifying games. In the match against the Curacao Pirates, Pantoja will start with Yoennis Yera, a left-handed reinforcement from Matanzas. Las Tunas roster for the II Baseball Champions League of the Americas. Pitchers:  Frank Luis Medina (PRI), Dariel Góngora (CMG), Yoennis Yera (MTZ), Andy Vargas (IND), Yadián Martínez (MAY), Yankiel Mauris (SSP), Alberto Pablo Civil (LTU), Albert Valladares (MAY), Keniel Ferraz (LTU), Rodolfo Díaz (LTU), Rubén Rodríguez (LTU). Catchers:  Yosvani Alarcón (LTU), Rafael Viñales (LTU) y Andrys Pérez (MTZ). Infielders:  Denis Peña (LTU), Yordanis Alarcón (LTU), Jean Lucas Baldoquín (LTU), Roberto Baldoquín (LTU), Luis Vicente Mateo (CFG) y Tailon Sánchez (PRI). Outfielders:  Yunieski Larduet (LTU), Héctor Castillo (LTU), Yoelkis Guibert (SCU) y Roel Santos (GRA). Manager:   Abeyci Pantoja

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Aroldis Chapman secured a save with two outs in a four-run lead game against the Cardinals on Friday. The Red Sox led 13-6 entering the ninth inning Friday, but Chapman was called in after Cooper Criswell allowed three runs. Chapman walked the first batter, loading the bases, but then induced a double play to finish the game. This marked the second save of the year for Boston’s main closer. The veteran has pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in 2025, with one hit allowed, two strikeouts and securing two saves and a win in the process. Jorge Soler struck out four times on Friday. Jorge Soler struck out four times on Friday during the Angels' 8-6 defeat to the Guardians. This marked Soler's first four-strikeout game of the season, which is not promising for the team that acquired him on October 31, 2024 via trade with the Atlanta Braves. As the designated hitter, he went 1-for-5. Soler has struck out 1,080 times in 1,019 games throughout his MLB career, so expectations should be tempered for a player known primarily for his power, having hit 191 home runs in his career. Yoán Moncada's thumb problem has deteriorated. Yoán Moncada was taken out of Friday's game against Cleveland because of irritation in his right thumb, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. In the Angels' 8-6 loss to the Guardians, he went 1-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and a run. Moncada had previously missed about two weeks at the end of spring training due to issues with the same thumb, and it appears the injury resurfaced during Friday's game. It's uncertain whether this recurrence of thumb trouble is serious enough for him to be placed on the injured list, but the Angels might choose to be cautious this time. Randy Arozarena went hitless on Friday. Randy Arozarena's inconsistent 2025 season persisted with a hitless performance in the Mariners' 10-9 loss to the Giants in 11 innings. Arozarena went 0-for-5, with one RBI, one walk, and three strikeouts. He is once again encountering the same challenges as in 2024, with only four hits—including a multi-hit game—in eight games. In 2025, Arozarena has struck out in six of his eight games, resulting in a concerning 75.0% strikeout rate. He also has two home runs. Luis Robert did not get a hit on Friday. Luis Robert Jr. did not get a hit on Friday during the White Sox's 7-4 defeat against the Tigers. Robert ended the game 0-for-4, with one walk and three strikeouts. The Cuban is anticipated to bounce back to his 2023 performance levels, where he set career highs by playing 145 games, hitting 36 doubles, 38 home runs, and achieving 80 RBIs, following a disappointing 2024 season where he participated in just 100 games, hitting 14 home runs and recording 35 RBIs. Dairon Blanco gets an injection. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Dairon Blanco received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Friday. Blanco will refrain from any activity for the next 3 to 5 days, after which the Royals' medical team will reassess his condition. This effectively rules out the chance of a minimum-length IL stint for the 31-year-old outfielder. A clearer timeline for his return might be established once he is permitted to resume baseball activities. Miguel Vargas contributed an RBI on Friday. Miguel Vargas went 1-for-5 with an RBI on Friday during the White Sox's 7-4 defeat against the Tigers. Vargas played third base and was the leadoff hitter. He also struck out once. Expectations are high for the 25-year-old, who no longer holds the "promising" label after missing significant opportunities during his short time with the Dodgers before moving to the White Sox. This season is critical for the Havana native, as he is currently 5-for-26 (.192) with 3 RBI. Yulieski Gurriel went hitless. The 40-year-old veteran went without a hit in three at-bats during his third start of 2025 and also struck out once. Gurriel joined the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal in February, received an invitation to the major league camp and was added to the Padres' Opening Day roster following an impressive spring training. So far this season, he's 1-for-11 with one RBI over four games. As he seeks to remain active after a successful stint with the Houston Astros, 2025 will be a pivotal year, potentially marking his final season at the MLB level. Yariel Rodríguez pitched an scoreless inning in relief. In a 5-0 defeat to the Mets, right-hander Yariel Rodríguez pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up no hits and one walk, though he didn't record any strikeouts. The Camagüey native, who lost his role in the starting rotation after a disappointing 2024 season with 21 starts, a 1-8 record, and a 4.47 ERA, failed to impress Toronto as a starter. He now needs to prove himself in this new role in 2025 to potentially return to the rotation in the future. Adolis García went hitless on Friday. In the 5-2 victory against the Rays, Adolis García went 0-for-3 and struck out once. The strong Cuban hitter has only managed five hits in 2025, but each hit has been an extra-base hit, with three doubles and two home runs. This performance reflects Texas's expectations for the Cuban player following a "poor" 2024 season, during which Adolis recorded career lows in home runs (25) and RBIs (85) after becoming a regular in MLB. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a hit against the Nationals. In a 6-4 victory against the Nationals, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit safely for the third game in a row, going 1-for-4. Although Gurriel Jr. has had a slow start this season in terms of batting average, his power appears to be on the rise, aiming to surpass his 2024 stats of 18 home runs and 75 RBIs. He has already hit two home runs and driven in six RBIs in the first eight games of the year. Arizona has strong hopes of making it back to the postseason after missing the 2024 playoffs, and Gurriel is a crucial part of the lineup now that he's the team's dependable left fielder. Andy Pagés went hitless on Friday. In a 3-2 loss to the Phillies, the Dodgers' first of 2025, Andy Pagés went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout, playing center field and batting ninth in the lineup. At 24 years old, Pagés aims to secure a spot as a regular player in the 2025 Dodgers starting lineup, though his offensive performance needs considerable enhancement. Fortunately, Pagés has been given chances early in 2025, participating in all nine games for the team, despite only getting hits in three of them. The Cuban player has gone four games in a row without a hit and is currently 3-for-27 with no home runs or RBIs this year. Cionel Pérez has a tough outing this Friday. Cionel Pérez had his worst relief outing of 2025 this Friday in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the Royals. With the game close 3-2 - Kansas City winning - in the bottom of the eighth inning, Cionel came in for a disastrous performance. He hit M.J. Meléndez, issued an intentional walk, and allowed three hits, including consecutive doubles by Mark Canha and Maikel García, plus a bases-loaded hit to the right field line by Vinnie Pasquantino that cleared the bases when the throw went to second base. It was a relief performance to forget, completing an inning of five earned runs with one strikeout. Many are concerned about the situation of the Cuban reliever, who now has a 19.64 ERA in four outings in 2025. The Cuban hasn't been effective since late 2024, posting a 9.26 ERA in 11 2/3 innings since September 1, with 17 hits, 12 earned runs, 10 walks, 8 strikeouts, a .333 batting average, and a 6.15 xFIP in his last 14 outings. Yandy Díaz has achieved another game with at least one hit. Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Rays' 5-2 defeat against the Rangers. Serving as the leadoff batter and designated hitter, Díaz is striving for a successful 2025 season after facing challenges adapting to a new stadium as a hitter. Despite his current slash line of .167/.188/.388, Díaz has shown consistency by recording at least one hit in five of his seven games this season.

As Las Tunas pauses to get ready for the Champions League of the Americas starting on April 8, Ciego de Ávila secured the top spot in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League (III CBEL) with a narrow 2-1 win against Industriales today. Meanwhile, further west, Pinar del Río maintained its upward momentum by defeating Santiago de Cuba 6-1, achieving its eighth win and tying for third place in the tournament. Standings | Schedule Pinar del Río 6, Santiago de Cuba 1 The combined performance of left-hander Geonel Gutiérrez (1-0) and right-hander Jenier Álvarez (1) enabled the Vegueros de Pinar del Río to secure a 6-1 win against Santiago de Cuba in the opening game of a four-game series at the Capitán San Luis Occidental stadium. The win marked the second straight victory for the Vegueros and their seventh in the last ten games, giving them the second-best current record among the six competing teams. Starter Gutiérrez gave up seven hits and two walks over his five innings, with Santiago scoring only once against him in the second inning. During that inning, Santiago managed three hits, including a double by Euclides Pérez starting the inning, which led to a score shortly afterward. When Geonel exited the mound at the beginning of the sixth inning, Jenier Álvarez delivered an outstanding four-inning relief performance, allowing just three hits, striking out three, and issuing one walk, securing his first save of the III CBEL. The efforts of both pitchers contributed to reducing the Vegueros' pitching ERA to 3.93, ranking as the second-best among all teams. Meanwhile, Santiago's right-handed pitcher, Wilber Reyna (1-3), had limited the Pinar del Río hitters to three hits over the first three scoreless innings, maintaining a narrow lead. However, in the fourth inning, singles by Luis P. Acosta and Yaser J. González at the start of the inning, began to create challenges for Reyna. After Jorge Rojas' out advanced Acosta to third, Frank González recorded the second out, but a hit by pitch to Lázaro Fernández loaded the bases. A grounder by Rolando Martínez resulted in a error by the Santiago's defense, allowing the first run of the inning to tie the score. A fielder's choice on another grounder, this time by shortstop Dainiel López, brought in the second run, which ultimately proved decisive. Just two innings later, against reliever Jesús Quintan, Pinar clinched the win with a four-run surge. Two singles and a walk—with one out in between—loaded the bases, and López doubled to right field to clear the bases and gives Pinar a 5-1 lead. Minutes later, Juan C. Arencibia completed the final score, with a single to right field that drove in López for the last run for the Vegueros. Today, Ariel Zerquera secured his fourth win in the III Cuban Baseball Elite League, making him the first pitcher to do so. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) Ciego de Ávila 2, Industriales 1 The Ciego de Ávila pitching staff once again showed why they, along with Pinar del Río, are the only teams with an earned run average (ERA) under 4.00 in this III CBEL. This Friday, the Ciego de Ávila team secured a close 2-1 win against Industriales at their home ground, José Ramón Cepero Stadium. Left-handed pitcher Ariel Zerquera (4-1) played a key role in the Tigres' triumph, becoming the first pitcher to achieve four wins. Zerquera pitched 7 2/3 innings, conceding seven hits and five walks but only one earned run, while striking out five batters. The Azules scored their sole run in the first inning. This occurred when Ariel Hechavarría walked, Yosvany Peñalver hit a single, an error advanced Hechavarría to third base, and a grounder led to a double play that allowed Hechavarría to score. However, in the bottom of the inning, a single by Robert Luis Delgado with runners on second and third changed the score, giving Ciego a 2-1 lead over starter Pavel Hernández (1-2), a lead they maintained for the rest of the game. From that point, both starting pitchers engaged in a duel, with Pavel striking out eight batters, issuing four walks, and allowing only three hits over his seven innings on the mound. Facing Zerquera, the Azules had chances to level the score, managing to get at least one runner on base in every inning except the seventh. However, the crucial RBI hit eluded them, resulting in 11 runners left stranded. When Zerquera was replaced in the eighth inning after Roque Tomás singled with two outs, right-hander Leonardo Moreira (3) was brought in. Despite a tense moment in the ninth inning, where Industriales advanced the tying run to second and had two men on base, Moreira delivered as he had throughout the tournament, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and issuing one intentional walk, securing his third save of the tournament.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources In the Brewers' 1-0 win on Thursday, Néstor Cortés held the Reds to just one hit over six innings. Néstor Cortés (1-1) secured the win after pitching six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks on Thursday against the Reds. He struck out six batters. After being hit hard for eight runs in his first start of the season against the Yankees, Cortés made a strong comeback in his second start, not allowing a baserunner in four of his six innings. Apart from a José Trevino double in the third inning, Cincinnati posed minimal threat on Thursday. Cortés will carry some momentum into his next outing, but a scheduled game in Colorado in the middle of next week presents a challenging scenario for the left-hander. Yordan Álvarez begins campaign with a slow start. Yordan went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Astros' 5-2 victory over the Twins on Thursday. The Astros' offense has been sluggish at the start of this season, with Yordan being a major factor. He hasn't managed a hit in five of the seven games he's started, going just 3-for-24 overall with no home runs and 4 RBIs. On a positive note, the team has a day off on Friday, giving Yordan an opportunity to improve over the weekend. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. records an RBI against the Yankees. In Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, D-backs' outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-4 with an RBI and struck out once. Gurriel has accumulated 6 RBIs in seven games in 2025. The 31-year-old outfielder saw a decline in slugging (.435, 61st in MLB) and was ranked 114th with 42 extra-base hits in 2024. However, if he remains healthy in 2025, it could be a promising year for him.

Ciego de Ávila achieved its third victory against Granma, winning 5-4, to once more share the lead with Las Tunas at the top of the Third Cuban Elite Baseball League (LEBC). Meanwhile, Las Tunas witnessed Pinar del Río maintaining its positive momentum, securing its sixth win in the last 10 games with a 6-2 result, thus evening the series at two wins each. Similarly, in the Cuban Baseball Classic, the series was also leveled at two wins each as Santiago de Cuba mounted an impressive comeback to beat Industriales 11-9. Frederich Cepeda takes a decisive step on the field as he becomes the all-time leader in hits (2,503) in Cuban National Series baseball during the game against Granma. Ciego de Ávila 5, Granma 4 At Mártires de Barbados Stadium, where the iconic Frederich Cepeda achieved the milestone of 2,503 hits in National Series history, leading the historical rankings in Cuban tournaments from 1962 to the present, Ciego de Ávila climbed to the top of the III LEBC with a 5-4 win against Granma. A trio of runs in the top of the ninth inning was crucial for the Tigres' win, as closer Yanielkis Duardo (0-1) failed to secure an out. With just three outs remaining and trailing 4-2, Fernando de la Paz initiated the inning with a single to center field. He advanced to third on Yoasán Guillén's double, and both runners scored to tie the game, courtesy of a single by pinch-hitter José L. Contreras. Rodolexis Moreno delivered Ciego's fourth straight hit of the inning, leading to Duardo's exit from the game. Duardo was ultimately accountable for the three runs and was tagged with the loss. Juan D. Pérez then took over, and despite managing to secure two outs in the inning, he loaded the bases by walking Cepeda. Minutes later, a decision was made after Robert L. Delgado was hit by a pitch, allowing Contreras to score the decisive run. In the ninth inning, Leonardo Moreira (1-1), who had been pitching in relief since the eighth inning, shut down the opposition to secure his first victory of the season. This win brought the Ciego de Avila team level with Las Tunas at the top of the tournament standings. Both teams scored two runs in the first inning, with Ciego achieving one of those runs through Cepeda's historic 2,503rd single against starter César García, who pitched 6 innings, allowed 7 hits, 2 earned runs, struck out 4, and walked 1. The score remained tied at two until the bottom of the fifth inning. During that inning, Darián Palma hit a solo home run to center field, breaking the tie against starter José I. Grandales, who pitched 5 innings, allowed 7 hits, 4 earned runs, struck out 5, and walked 4. A walk, an error, and a single by Andy Cosme increased the score to 4-2, leading up to the events of the ninth inning. Pinar del Río 6, Las Tunas 2 The Vegueros de Pinar del Río humbled the tournament leader by defeating them for the second time in their four-game series, winning 6-2 at home in the Capitán San Luis stadium in Pinar del Río. The victory was secured through the combined efforts of right-handed pitchers Yunieski García (1-2) and José E. Santos (1). García pitched for 5 innings, allowing 9 hits, 2 earned runs, striking out 7, and walking 1. Santos followed with 4 innings, conceding 3 hits and striking out 2. This pitching duo was crucial in containing Las Tunas' 12-hit offense. García delivered another strong performance, striking out seven in five innings with just one walk, and despite giving up nine hits, he managed to control the game in critical moments. Santos provided excellent long relief, allowing only three hits and achieving two strikeouts in four scoreless innings, earning his first save of the season. Against left-handed starter Dariel Góngora (1-2), Pinar took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Dainier Gálvez walked, followed by a double from Luis P. Acosta, and a single by Yaser J. González brought both runners home. In the third inning, the decisive run came as Gálvez hit a leadoff home run to left field, providing the Vegueros with a lead they maintained for the rest of the game. Góngora did not come back to pitch in the fourth inning. After he left, Pinar continued to score in every inning until the sixth, adding three more runs against the first reliever, Wilson Paredes. In the fifth inning, Lázaro Fernández hit a triple that brought in second baseman Rolando Martínez. In the following inning, back-to-back doubles by Acosta and Yaser Julio added another run for Pinar. In the sixth, a double by Tailón Sánchez and a single by Fernández completed the final score. The national champions had several chances, particularly against starter García, but despite recording twelve hits in the game, they also left 12 runners stranded. In the fourth inning, Las Tunas managed three hits, including an RBI by Leonel Moas that reduced the deficit to 3-1. However, with two men on base, Yunieski Larduet struck out. In the fifth inning, they got the first two batters on base with a single and an error, yet the strong lineup of the fourth, fifth, and sixth hitters failed to produce. An inning later, Larduet hit a double that brought in Las Tunas' second and final run, but with two runners in scoring position, Luis V. Mateo and Yosvani Alarcón couldn't secure an RBI. After a rough start to the tournament, Pinar del Río achieved their sixth win in the last ten matches, and although they are in fifth place in this III LEBC, they are just one game short of reaching the qualifying position. Yoelkis Guibert watches his three-run homer sail over the fence, sealing the game against Industriales in the seventh inning. (Photo by Radio Bayamo) Santiago de Cuba 11, Industriales 9 Santiago de Cuba employed a long-range offensive strategy, hitting seven home runs to defeat Industriales 11-9 at Guillermón Moncada Park, resulting in a two-win tie in the third series of the LEBC. Industriales appeared to be on track for victory, holding a comfortable 6-1 lead at the top of the third inning, when Santiago began their comeback that led to their win. Yoelkis Guibert initiated the inning with a walk. After a middle out following Yoel Yanqui's strikeout, Eduardo García hit his sixth home run of the season, reducing the lead to 6-3 and solidifying his position as the tournament home run leader. The inning could have produced more runs, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Francisco "Pancho" Martínez popped out to left field against reliever Alexei Gil. The tie occurred an inning later. Jeison Martínez and Guibert hit back-to-back home runs to start the inning, sending Gil back to the dugout. When Leodán Reyes took the mound against Yanqui, he made it three consecutive home runs, with a powerful shot to deep right field, creating an exciting tie. The game stayed tied until the top of the seventh inning, when Dennis Laza, with two outs, hit a solo shot off the Wasps' first reliever, right-hander Yoandro Daudinot, marking his exit from the game. The Santiago team's response came quickly in the bottom of the inning. A walk brought in right-hander Frank Herrera (0-1), and after a sacrifice fly advanced the runner to second, pinch-hitter Harold Vázquez struck out for the second out. It seemed Herrera would prevent the Wasps from tying the score, but a walk to "Pancho" Martínez and a single by Jeison Martínez evened it at 7-7. The worst was yet to come. Guibert then gave Santiago a lead they never relinquished with his second home run of the afternoon, a line drive to left field making it 10-7, followed by Yanqui's second home run of the game, a line drive up the middle, extending the lead to 11-7. In the ninth inning, Industriales attempted a comeback. They collected four hits, including two doubles by the Hechavarría's that drove in one run and a single by Andrys Pérez that drove in another. However, right-hander Wilber Reyna, in relief, managed to get Roque Tomás to ground out to third base, ending the game while the tying runners were on third and second base, poised to score. Overall, it was a game marked by poor pitching, as evidenced by the 26 hits and 14 walks between both teams. Santiago's victory tied the two teams for third place in the tournament.

Cuban Players News for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources On Wednesday against the Orioles, Aroldis Chapman secured the save by pitching a scoreless inning, during which he walked one batter and struck out another. It's remarkable that Chapman is still throwing 99 MPH and closing games at 37 years old. Although his control was somewhat inconsistent, as it tends to be, he managed to retire the Orioles with little trouble to secure this save. In the game, Chapman made history in MLB by becoming the first pitcher to achieve saves with seven different teams: the Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Royals, Rangers, Pirates, and Red Sox. He appears firmly established as the Red Sox's closer and is likely to have many save opportunities this season. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. slugs second homer. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. achieved one hit in three at-bats, which included a two-run home run, and earned a walk during Wednesday's 4-3 win against the Yankees. Gurriel started the scoring with a two-run homer to left field in the first inning. This was the 31-year-old's second home run of the season, with both occurring in his last two starts (he was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter on Tuesday). Gurriel has never hit more than 24 home runs in a regular season, but he's demonstrating power early in 2025. Raisel Iglesias gave up an earned run and allowed two inherited runners to score, striking out two batters in an inning during a blown save against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Raisel Iglesias (0-1) suffered the loss and blew a save against the Dodgers on Wednesday, conceding one run on two hits while striking out two batters in one inning. With Atlanta starting the season 0-6, manager Brian Snitker opted to use his closer before the ninth inning as the team held a two-run lead in the eighth. Iglesias came in with one out and a runner on first, inheriting a 2-0 count against Dodgers catcher Will Smith. He threw two more balls, allowing Smith to reach base, but then got Tommy Edman to ground out, getting close to escaping the situation. However, Max Muncy hit a two-run double to tie the game, resulting in a blown save for Iglesias. The experienced closer stayed in for the ninth inning and took the loss when Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off homer. Iglesias converted 67 of 75 save opportunities over the past two regular seasons, so he is expected to have some leeway despite Wednesday's setback. In the Astros' loss to the Giants on Wednesday, Yordan Álvarez had two hits in four at-bats and drove in two runs. Yordan Álvarez went 2-for-4, walked once, and drove in two runs on Wednesday against the Giants. After managing just one hit in his first 16 at-bats of the season, Álvarez delivered a two-RBI single in the fifth inning. Although this start isn't ideal, Álvarez has maintained an OPS above .950 for three straight seasons, so there's little cause for worry. It was a hitless day for Adolis García on Wednesday. He has been struggling at bat so far this season, continuing a trend from last year. As Texas beat Cincinnati 1-0 Wednesday, Adolis went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. While his current performance at the plate has been inconsistent, his ability to still contribute with home runs and RBIs indicates potential for improvement. Last season, his power numbers were a key part of his game, and replicating or surpassing those figures will be crucial for his success this year. As well as this, he has already hit two home runs and has four RBIs, and he is looking to improve his 25 home runs and 85 RBIs of 2024. On Wednesday, Adrián Morejón struggled. As we all know, the 26-year-old southpaw will pitch in the bullpen in 2025. He already recorded a save against the struggling Braves last Saturday and only recorded two in 2024. On Wednesday, however, he was hit hard allowing three hits and an earned run over one inning against the Guardians, before Robert Suárez avoided further trouble. On days when Suarez rests, Morejón might see more opportunities to save.